Digital Discourse: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Social Media Trends andTheories

Abstract

This systematic review explores the field of social media focusing on the theories, methods, and trends that form our knowledge of the way humans use digital platforms. This paper hints that the most popular theory used in social media research is Uses and Gratifications. It is also observed that the most dominant methods used are the Content Analysis and Survey method. While quantitative methods were heavily used, interviews add qualitative depth to the studies. The interdisciplinary nature of social media research stems from the inclusion of theories from psychology, disaster management and defence studies. Lack of theoretical framework in environmental and psychological studies was also observed. Themes like body image, addiction, and political campaigns reflect societal relevance of such academic work. In conclusion, this systematic review of 30 papers portrays the dynamic and adaptable nature of social media studies as it seeks to resolve the complexities of our virtual world.